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Krannert Center announces $30 million fundraising campaign

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts' "Endow the Dream" fundraising campaign will provide support for visiting artists, new artistic work, education and engagement programs.

Photo by L. Brian Stauffer

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Krannert Center for the Performing Arts announced a five-year, $30 million fundraising initiative at a Feb. 1 donor gathering. Krannert Center’s “Endow the Dream” $30 million initiative is in conjunction with the University of Illinois’ $2.25 billion “With Illinois” campaign, as well as the center’s 50th anniversary.

In the mid-1960s, philanthropists Herman and Ellnora Krannert, made a $16 million commitment to excellence in the arts at the U. of I. That gift led to the opening of Krannert Center – considered to be the nation’s leading university-based performing arts center – on April 19, 1969.

The center supports the educational missions and performances of the Illinois School of Music and dance and theater departments. Each year, the center hosts more than 300 performances, receives approximately 300,000 visitors, and interacts with more than 80 percent of the U. of I. student body.

In 1989, Krannert Center formed its endowment fund, which now represents more than $20 million in holdings, providing critical interest income to support the center’s programming. However, a large percentage of the costs required to present a full spectrum of visiting artists is not covered by the current combination of endowment income, ticket sales, student fees and grants.

Funding priorities for Krannert Center’s initiative will remain focused on visiting artist fees and programming ($15 million), research and the incubation of new artistic work ($5 million), education of both arts and nonarts students ($5 million), and engagement programs and access needs ($5 million).

More information is available by contacting Krannert Center’s senior director of development, Deborah Miller, at development@krannertcenter.illinois.edu or 217-333-1629, or Anthony Pomonis of the University of Illinois Foundation at apomonis@uif.uillinois.edu or 217-300-3470.